Crowns

Over time our teeth begin to weaken and become more susceptible to problems such as decay, cracks, fractures, and discoloration. If you feel your smile isn’t what it once was, crowns can help you recover your smile. If your dentist notices that a tooth is decayed or seems weakened and/or fractured, a crown may be necessary to make sure that there are no additional problems with the tooth. In cases like this a filling or bonding will not be sufficient.

Crowns can be made from ceramic, zirconia, porcelain, gold, or porcelain fused to metal. To maintain the natural look and feel of your teeth we match the shade of the crown to your other teeth so that it will blend in and appear to be one of your own natural teeth.

The process of fabricating a crown takes 2-3 visits. On the first visit the tooth will be reshaped by filing down the enamel so that the crown can be placed over it. This will be done with local anesthetic so that you do not experience any discomfort. Once the tooth has been reshaped, an impression will be taken of that tooth and the surrounding teeth and sent to a dental lab so that your new crown can be fabricated. Before leaving, your dentist will place a temporary crown on the tooth until your permanent crown is ready.

The crown takes about 2-3 weeks to be returned to your dentist. At this time you will have another appointment to cement the permanent crown. Crowns are durable and will usually last about 10-15 years. You should care for it as you would any of your other teeth with regular brushing and flossing. Call us today if you would like to learn more about how crowns can help restore your smile.